10 Influential Leaders to Follow in 2025: Entrepreneurs Redefining Success and Paving New Paths
In the ever-evolving world of modern entrepreneurship, a new wave of innovators are transforming their industries, overcoming obstacles, and driving unprecedented change. Today we celebrate the creativity and resilience of these extraordinary leaders, honoring their remarkable contributions to the business landscape.
Hailing from diverse sectors—including technology, healthcare, fashion, and finance—each visionary embodies the essence of entrepreneurship. Their stories, defined by grit, strategic brilliance, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence, inspire us to push boundaries and redefine success. Whether building disruptive startups or elevating established companies, these entrepreneurs showcase the boundless potential of innovation and determination to shape the future and leave a lasting impact.
1.Cris Cawley
In the competitive world of entrepreneurship, standing out often requires more than just skill and strategy—it demands a compelling story. Cris Cawley, the visionary CEO behind Game Changer Publishing, understands this better than most. With a mission to empower entrepreneurs, speakers, and thought leaders to amplify their messages, Cawley has redefined what it means to build a brand through the written word.
From Inspiration to Innovation: The Birth of Game Changer Publishing
Cawley’s journey to founding Game Changer Publishing stemmed from her experiences as a CEO. “In all my years, I met countless entrepreneurs with incredible stories and knowledge, but many struggled to translate their expertise into a compelling book,” she shares. Recognizing the barriers posed by traditional publishing—lengthy timelines, intimidating processes, and restrictive royalty structures—Cawley set out to create a platform that would simplify the journey for aspiring authors.
Her vision was clear: to transform books into global platforms that not only tell stories but also serve as launchpads for business growth and personal branding. “Every book we publish is more than just a product—it’s a legacy for our authors,” she explains.
The Authority Advantage: Why Every Entrepreneur Needs a Book
In today’s crowded marketplace, Cawley believes that authoring a book is one of the most effective tools for establishing authority. “Trust is currency,” she states. “Nothing positions you as a credible expert faster than being the author of a best-selling book.”
A book, she notes, goes beyond showcasing expertise—it provides lasting value. Unlike fleeting social media content, books open doors to media features, speaking engagements, and partnerships. They create a unique bond between the author and the reader, turning professionals into thought leaders.
“When your book is in someone’s hands, you’re not competing for their attention—you have it,” Cawley emphasizes.
The Future of Publishing: Augmented Reality and AI Integration
As the publishing landscape evolves, Game Changer Publishing is at the forefront of innovation. Cawley is particularly excited about emerging trends like augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI).
“Augmented reality is making storytelling more interactive,” she says. “Imagine a business author guiding readers through a concept with embedded video demonstrations in their book. It deepens the connection and creates an unforgettable experience.”
AI, on the other hand, is streamlining the publishing process and personalizing the reader’s journey. From crafting book outlines to creating companion content tailored to individual readers, AI is enhancing how authors connect with their audiences.
Game Changer Publishing is embracing these advancements with the launch of their platform, Publish, which integrates cutting-edge technologies while preserving the authenticity of their authors’ voices.
A Holistic Approach to Publishing
Game Changer Publishing is more than just a publishing house; it’s a strategic partner for entrepreneurs. From launching books to best-seller status to crafting personalized marketing plans, the company ensures that its authors maximize the potential of their work.
“We guide our authors on leveraging their books to secure speaking engagements, press features, and collaborations,” says Cawley. “Our goal is to turn every book into a powerful asset that drives brand growth and opens unimaginable doors.”
Building Legacies, One Book at a Time
Through her leadership at Game Changer Publishing, Cris Cawley is empowering entrepreneurs to share their stories, build their brands, and leave lasting legacies. Her innovative approach to publishing is not just changing the game—it’s rewriting the rules.
For those ready to take the leap, Cawley’s message is clear: “Your story has the power to inspire, influence, and impact. Don’t wait—let it be heard.”
2. Jenny Lei
At just 28 years old, Jenny Lei has transformed a personal struggle into a thriving business, proving that necessity truly is the mother of invention. Armed with a master’s degree in information science from Cornell University, Lei initially set her sights on a consulting career. However, job interviews left her feeling underconfident—not due to a lack of skills but because she couldn’t find accessories that truly empowered her.
In 2019, Lei decided to take matters into her own hands, designing her ideal work tote despite having no formal training in fashion or design. As she built her brand, Freja New York, Lei chronicled her journey, sharing everything from sourcing her first fabric samples to collaborating with a family-owned factory in Guangzhou, China. This transparency, she says, has been central to her success.
Freja launched in 2020 with an initial inventory of just 300 bags, entirely self-funded. Since then, the brand has expanded into a luxury line of minimalist bags, including purses and weekend travel essentials, priced between $100 and $550. Known for its authenticity, Freja reveals production costs to customers, a move that has resonated with working professionals and celebrities alike, including Hailey Bieber.
By 2023, the New York City-based startup generated $5.3 million in revenue, with projections to more than double that in 2024. Lei’s vision has not only filled a gap in the market but also empowered countless individuals to carry their confidence wherever they go.
3. Drew Afualo
At just 29 years old, Drew Afualo has become a powerhouse content creator, celebrated for her infectious laugh and women-centered content. With a 9-million-strong following on TikTok, mostly women under 35, Afualo has turned her unique voice into a multi-million-dollar empire.
In 2023, Afualo earned an estimated $2.9 million through brand partnerships with major names like Elf Cosmetics and the NBA, as well as her two popular podcasts. The Comment Section features candid conversations with guests like Rainn Wilson and Kehlani about navigating internet hate, while Two Idiot Girls, co-hosted with her sister Deison, delivers hilarious anecdotes and heartfelt moments.
Her reach caught the attention of Spotify, which signed her to a lucrative two-year deal worth $450,000 annually. Meanwhile, her best-selling memoir, LOUD, showcased her ability to resonate with audiences on an even deeper level, solidifying her place as a voice of her generation.
But Afualo’s ambitions go beyond digital media. “Traditional Hollywood now must be a lot more open to the idea of including internet people,” she says. With her sights set on TV and film, she’s determined to expand her influence to mainstream media.
Afualo’s blend of humor, authenticity, and advocacy for women has positioned her as more than just a content creator—it’s made her a cultural force redefining entertainment. As she transitions into Hollywood, one thing is certain: Drew Afualo’s star is only just beginning to rise.
4. Gökçe Güven
At just 25 years old, Gökçe Güven is transforming how companies view marketing, turning it from an expense into a revenue generator. As the founder of Kalder, Güven has developed a platform that seamlessly integrates cash-back and rewards programs into clients’ websites, delivering tangible value for businesses and their customers alike.
Kalder’s innovative approach has attracted a client roster that includes major players like Godiva and the International Air Transport Association. Inspired by successful programs like United Airlines’ MileagePlus, Güven’s model focuses on embedding financial technology within marketing strategies. “If you look at giants, what they did great for the past decade is they built financial technology capabilities inside their marketing machines,” she explains.
The model is simple yet effective: Kalder charges 60 cents monthly per customer who links their credit card, along with a small processing fee and a half-cent per dollar on transactions made with any of its 25,000 partnering merchants. This structure has proven lucrative, with Kalder generating $1.5 million in revenue this year alone.
Supported by $11 million in funding and a $35 million valuation, Güven’s vision is redefining marketing’s role in the business ecosystem. By creating programs that reward both companies and their customers, Kalder is setting a new standard for how brands connect with their audiences.
With her forward-thinking approach, Güven is not just building a company—she’s shaping the future of marketing itself.
5. Ben Nowack
At just 28, Ben Nowack is taking innovation to new heights—literally. As the cofounder of Reflect Orbital and a former SpaceX engineer, Nowack is on a mission to transform solar energy with an audacious concept: sunlight as a service.
Reflect Orbital is developing a constellation of mirrored satellites designed to reflect solar radiation down to Earth, ensuring a steady supply of sunlight even after nightfall. The idea may sound like science fiction, but Nowack has already demonstrated its feasibility. Last year, he launched a hot air balloon equipped with an eight-by-eight-foot Mylar mirror, successfully redirecting sunlight to solar panels in Pahrump, Nevada.
“Solar is a great way to make power—until the sun goes down,” Nowack explains. His satellites aim to change that by delivering uninterrupted solar energy, revolutionizing how power is generated and used. Alongside solar applications, Nowack envisions his technology supporting after-dark activities like night skiing, construction, and search-and-rescue operations.
Backed by $8.7 million in funding from Sequoia Capital and other investors, Reflect Orbital is tackling challenges such as cloud interference, with satellites designed to adapt and find clear patches of sky.
Nowack’s vision is more than just an engineering marvel—it’s a bold step toward a future where renewable energy is accessible anytime, anywhere. With Reflect Orbital, he’s not just chasing the sun; he’s redefining the limits of solar power for a brighter tomorrow.
6. Molly Mielke
At just 24 years old, Molly Mielke is reshaping what it means to be a venture capitalist. As the sole general partner of Moth Fund, a boutique venture firm she founded, Mielke has proven that unconventional paths can lead to remarkable success.
With a background as a film student turned graphic designer, Mielke honed her skills designing products at Figma and Notion and consulting for companies like Stripe and Retool. Despite having no formal investment track record, her expertise in storytelling for early-stage tech companies caught the attention of high-profile backers like Cendana Capital, Marc Andreessen, Fred Ehrsam, and Daniel Gross. Together, they helped her raise $6 million for Moth Fund.
Focused on early-stage startups, Mielke invests up to $250,000 in innovative companies such as Infinite Machine, an electric scooter firm, and Armstrong, a robotic dishwasher startup. To date, she has invested in 36 businesses, showcasing her sharp eye for potential and her ability to support groundbreaking ideas.
“I definitely don’t look like a model VC,” Mielke says, reflecting on her unique journey. “The right LPs understand VCs should be weird, and they should stand out.”
Mielke’s bold approach and fresh perspective are paving the way for a new generation of venture capitalists. As she prepares to raise a second fund, she’s proving that success in venture capital doesn’t require following the traditional playbook—it thrives on originality and vision.
7. Oban MacTavish
At 29, Oban MacTavish is on a mission to revolutionize the fight against financial fraud. As the cofounder of Spade, a New York City-based fintech startup, MacTavish is tackling a significant blind spot in the banking industry: the lack of transparency in credit card transactions.
“Banks are relying on data infrastructure from the 1960s,” MacTavish explains. This outdated system leaves financial institutions struggling to differentiate legitimate businesses from fraudulent ones. Together with cofounder Cooper Hart, MacTavish launched Spade to provide precise, real-time information about merchants, including their business categories and locations.
Spade combines data partnerships, artificial intelligence, and human review to build a comprehensive database of tens of millions of businesses. This innovative approach is invaluable in the ongoing battle against credit and debit card fraud, which cost banks $36 billion globally in 2023, according to Nilson.
In just three years, Spade has grown into an 18-person operation processing over $1 billion in monthly transactions for clients like Stripe and Corpay. The company’s success has attracted $16 million in funding, a testament to its potential to reshape financial security.
MacTavish’s work is more than just a technological upgrade—it’s a game-changer in the fight against fraud. By empowering banks with accurate and actionable data, Spade is setting a new standard for how financial institutions protect themselves and their customers. At the forefront of this transformation, MacTavish is proving that innovation is the key to staying ahead of cybercriminals.
8. Peggy Wang
At just 29 years old, Peggy Wang is poised to reshape the gaming industry. Alongside her cofounder Vishnu Hari, 33, Wang left promising careers at Facebook (now Meta) to pursue their shared vision of the future of video games. The duo’s brainchild, Ego, is a groundbreaking startup aimed at empowering players to create their own custom simulation games with nothing more than simple text prompts.
The company, which now boasts a team of seven, emerged from Y Combinator in April 2023 and quickly raised $7.5 million to turn its vision into reality. At its core, Ego’s sandbox-style game engine promises to revolutionize creativity in gaming. Players will be able to build immersive worlds akin to The Sims or Minecraft—without any coding knowledge. But what truly sets Ego apart is its integration of AI, allowing in-game characters to rewrite their programming in real time. This innovation paves the way for unlimited, one-of-a-kind gaming experiences.
“We’re building a game that people can play forever,” says Wang, a Stanford graduate who stands out as a rare female entrepreneur in the male-dominated gaming industry. With a focus on accessibility and limitless possibilities, Wang and her team are designing a platform that could redefine how games are created and played.
The alpha version of Ego is slated for release next spring, and anticipation is already building. For Peggy Wang, the future of gaming is one where creativity knows no bounds—and she’s making it happen.
9. Shaboozey
Shaboozey never imagined he’d be a chart-topping singer, let alone a Grammy-nominated one. Yet his single, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” has shattered expectations, spending an impressive 16 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning one of his six Grammy nominations for Song of the Year. With over 1.5 billion streams and an estimated $10 million in earnings, the track has cemented his place as a rising star in music.
Born Collins Obinna Chibueze, the 29-year-old artist credits his breakthrough to embracing his roots. His latest work is a seamless fusion of country and hip-hop, blending his Nigerian heritage with the sounds of his Virginia upbringing. “I didn’t think anyone was going to like this,” Shaboozey admits. “Country is one of the hardest things to get people to connect with.” But the gamble paid off, earning him a devoted fanbase and redefining genre boundaries.
Now, Shaboozey is channeling his success into entrepreneurship. Through his label, American Dogwood, a collaboration with Empire, he’s scouting new talent and expanding his influence in the industry. Endorsements are also flowing in. His long-standing admiration for Jack Daniel’s has evolved into a formal partnership, with the iconic whiskey brand sponsoring his North American tour this fall.
With his genre-defying sound and a growing business empire, Shaboozey is more than a musician—he’s a trailblazer proving that bold risks can lead to extraordinary rewards.
10. Bobbi Althoff
Bobbi Althoff’s rise to stardom began with a single, unfiltered goal: to make money. From trying her hand at nannying content to housecleaning videos, the 27-year-old tested countless creative angles before discovering her winning formula—parody videos about being a “bad mom.” Her 2021 TikTok debut, featuring a deadpan joke about naming her daughter Richard because she wanted a son, quickly went viral. By early 2023, she had amassed 3 million followers, a number that has since skyrocketed to an impressive 13 million.
With her growing online fame, Althoff launched The Really Good Podcast in 2023, a platform that became her trademark. Known for her sarcastic, deadpan interview style, the podcast features candid conversations with high-profile guests, including Mark Cuban, Shaquille O’Neal, and Jason Derulo. Fans were drawn to her ability to bring humor and unpredictability to even the most serious of personalities.
In 2024, Althoff inked a year-long deal with Studio71, a Beverly Hills-based content studio that specializes in helping digital creators monetize their platforms. Between this partnership and lucrative brand deals, she earned an estimated $2.9 million over the past year.
Despite her rapid success, Althoff remains modest. “I don’t know how it keeps working for me,” she says. “I’m just taking it one interview at a time.”
From viral TikTok creator to podcasting sensation, Althoff’s unique blend of humor and authenticity continues to make her a standout in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
